If you maintain a regular exercise regimen, there’s no benefit of chiropractic adjustment, right? Not so fast! While getting at least 30 minutes of gym time a day has numerous benefits, avoiding back troubles is not one of them. In fact, practices such as yoga can even create back troubles. Still not convinced that a gym rat can benefit from a visit to the chiropractor? Here are a couple reasons a chiropractic adjustment can be better for your back pain than a workout alone.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a licensed medical specialty that aims to help spine and joint function using sharp manual adjustment. Considered a form of integrative medicine, it is grounded largely in conservative care of spine and soft-tissue issues. Some 50 million Americans see a chiropractor each year for relief from conditions like:
- Sciatica
- Neck pain
- Whiplash
As a fitness enthusiast, you may feel tempted to try to workout your way to back relief. But there are a few things to consider before your rule out chiropractic. They include whether you can get the type of relief you want without professional help.
Muscle Control
One of the reasons chiropractic causes relief is because it manipulates muscles and joints that you can’t voluntarily move. These include segmental and deep spinal muscles which, while involved in exercise, can’t necessarily be targeted by things like cardio or weight lifting. Chiropractic treatment can specifically target the 24 vertebra in your spine, potentially bringing relief through a type of movement that can’t be replicated in the gym. It’s this paraphysiological movement that’s responsible for the popping sounds so common to chiropractic sessions.
Targeted Treatment
Exercise like neck retractions or back stretches can move spinal vertebrae and joints in general areas. But they don’t target specific areas of pain. For instance, neck stretches will move all of the vertebrae. Another example is if two or three of your vertebrae are frozen in place, a good stretch will help the general area but can’t necessarily bring relief to the specific stuck joint or misaligned vertebrae. Chiropractic, on the other hand, uses subtle adjustments to specifically target smaller, discrete spinal muscles and bones.
From pilates to running, exercises are hands down a good thing to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle. By no means should you give up your fitness routine, as it promotes heart health, manageable weight and more. But if back or joint pain is plaguing you, consider a consultation to learn what chiropractic can do for you.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Chiropractic Care
Ameriwell Clinics, Chiropractor Capitol Heights, MD